Quick purification device for smoke and exhaust gas discharged from marine engine

ABSTRACT

A quick purification device for smoke and exhaust gas discharged from a marine engine includes a vertical communicating tube, a necked portion, first flared portion, second flared portion and exhaust tail tube are formed on the top end of the communicating tube in sequence from bottom to top, and a plurality of straight-through ceramic filters are configured between the first and second flared portions; a waste water diversion pipe is connected to the lower end of the communicating tube; an air inlet is in communication with the communicating tube, being connected to the exhaust outlet of a marine engine; a first exhaust gas flushing device, second exhaust gas flushing device and a third exhaust gas flushing device are configured inside the communicating tube in sequence; the first, second and third exhaust gas flushing devices can spray fluid toward the inside of the communicating tube.

(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a dedicated device capable of purifyingexhaust gas discharged from a marine engine automatically, quickly andeffectively.

(b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Freighters, on which a great many tons of cargo is carried frequently,sailing between countries day and night, form undoubtedly one kind ofmarine pollution sources.

Pollution generated from ships sailing in the ocean includes exhaustemissions, ship sewage, garbage, ballast water, hull paint resistant tosea life and so on. In terms of exhaust emissions, propulsion enginesand generators for the operation of ships will discharge exhaust gas dueto the combustion of fuel. The marine fuel is mainly heavy oil, and thecombustion products include CO₂, NO_(X), SO_(X) and soot (particulatematter, PM). CO₂ is a key cause of global warming, NO_(X) and SO_(X) aprime culprit forming acid rain, and therefore, they need to beconstrained. Taking an ore carrying vessel of deadweight of twentythousand tons at a sailing speed of 15 knots as an example, the dailyfuel consumption is even up to 65 tons approximately; 1 tonne of heavyoil combustion will produce 3.11 tonnes of CO2, and therefore, the CO₂emissions from the vessel are as much as 202 tonnes per day!

According to the statistics, international shipping generates 8.4 tonnesof CO₂ emissions approximately every year, which is equal to 3% of thetotal quantity of the CO₂ emissions in the whole world, and they arebeing increased substantially with the increase in international trade.In order to control the CO₂ emissions of international shipping, on July11 to 15, 2011, at the 62nd session of IMO's Marine EnvironmentProtection Committee, amendments to MARPOL 73/78 Convention Annex VI wasadopted to determine two mandatory energy efficiency standards for ship,i.e. “new ship Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI)” and “ship energyefficiency management plan (SEEMP)”. The convention stipulates that from2013, all 400 gross tonnage or more new ships must reduce carbonemissions by 10%, further reduce them by 10% from 2020 to 2024, and mustreach the aim of 30% thereof after 2024. As for the existing ships, theymust establish an energy efficiency management plan, in which guidelinesshould be clearly listed to control energy efficiency.

In order to control NO_(x) emissions, in October, 2008, IMO amendedMARPOL Annex VI, stipulating that the NO_(X) emission standard formarine diesel engine is divided into three phases. As for marine dieselengines made after January, 2016 and operated in non-emission controlareas are applicable to the provision of the second phase. It must benoted that the NO_(X) emission must be reduced by about 20% from thefirst to second phase, and by 80% by the third phase!

In order to control SO_(X), the revised MARPOL Annex VI 2008 stipulatesthat the fuel sulfur content of ships built before January, 2012 cannotbe more than 3.5% and the fuel sulfur content of ships built afterJanuary, 2020 0.5%. The fuel sulfur content is more limited if shipssail in emission control areas: the fuel sulfur content of ships builtbefore March, 2010 cannot be more than 1.5% and the fuel sulfur contentof ships built after January, 2012 1.0%. In addition, the fuel sulfurcontent of ships built after January, 2015 cannot be more than 0.1%.

In view of the foregoing for increasingly stringent emission controls tointernational shipping vessels, it is necessary to provide a device forthe effective and rapid purification of exhaust emissions from ships.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a quick purificationdevice for smoke and exhaust gas discharged from a marine engine,preventing toxic exhaust gas from being discharged to contaminate theenvironment while heavy oil is burnt in an engine.

To achieve the object mentioned above, the present invention proposes aquick purification device for smoke and exhaust gas discharged from amarine engine, characterized in that it includes a verticalcommunicating tube, a necked portion, first flared portion, secondflared portion and exhaust tail tube are formed on the top end of thecommunicating tube in sequence from bottom to top, and a plurality ofstraight-through ceramic filters are configured between the first andsecond flared portions; a waste water diversion pipe is connected to thelower end of the communicating tube; an air inlet is in communicationwith the communicating tube, being connected to the exhaust outlet of amarine engine; a first exhaust gas flushing device, second exhaust gasflushing device and third exhaust gas flushing device are configuredinside the communicating tube in sequence; the first, second and thirdexhaust gas flushing devices can spray fluid toward the inside of thecommunicating tube. Whereby, smoke and exhaust gas discharged from amarine engine can be intercepted and flushed by fluid sprayed from thewater gas flushing devices at different phases in the process ofdischarging through the communicating pipe and exhaust tail pipe, andcarbon particles accumulated in the ceramic filters can be flushed downsimultaneously by the fluid sprayed from the waste gas flushing devicespositioned above so as to reduce the pollution to the environment uponthe sailing of a ship. Finally, the flushed waste water is discharged toa waste water processing equipment of the ship through the waste waterdiversion pipe.

The technical means of the present invention includes: a communicatingtube, an axial direction thereof being vertically arranged, a neckedportion, first flared portion, second flared portion and exhaust tailtube being formed on a top end of the communicating tube in sequencefrom bottom to top, the second flared portion being configured in such away as to be inverted with respect to the first flared portion, aplurality of straight-through ceramic filters being configured betweenthe first and second flared portions, a waste water diversion pipe beingconnected to a lower end of the communicating tube, and the exhaust tailpipe having an exhaust vent facing upward; an air inlet pipe, incommunication with the communicating tube between the necked portion andwaste water diversion pipe; a first exhaust gas flushing device,configured on an inner circumference of the communicating tube betweenthe necked portion and air inlet, capable of spraying fluid toward aninside of the communicating tube; a second exhaust gas flushing device,configured on an inner circumference of the communicating tube above thesecond flared portion, capable of spraying fluid toward an inside of thecommunicating tube; and a third exhaust gas flushing device, configuredon an inner circumference of the communicating above the second wastegas flushing device, capable of spraying fluid toward an inside of thecommunicating tube.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, both ends of thelargest diameter of the first and second flared portions respectivelyface toward the straight-through ceramic filters, allowing the waste gaspassing through the necked portion can be speeded to pass through thestraight-through ceramic filters, and then to be gathered up to passthrough the second and third water gas flushing devices.

In a preferred embodiment, the first waste gas flushing device includesa plurality of atomizing nozzles arranged around the inner circumferenceof the communication tube, and an orifice of each one thereof facestoward the center of the communicating tube.

In a preferred embodiment, the second waste gas flushing device includesa plurality of atomizing nozzles arranged around the inner circumferenceof the communication tube, and an orifice of each one thereof facestoward the center of the communicating tube.

In a preferred embodiment, the third waste gas flushing device includesa plurality of atomizing nozzles arranged around the inner circumferenceof the communication tube, and an orifice of each one thereof facestoward the center of the communicating tube.

In a preferred embodiment, a mesh screen is configured on the end of thelargest diameter of the first flared portion, and the straight-throughceramic filters are supported thereby.

Advantageously, according to the present invention, a pump may pump aninexhaustible supply of liquid (seawater) to each atomizing nozzle, andthe pumped fluid is sprayed therefrom to carry out a multi-phaseflushing to waste gas to flush out contaminants in the process ofdischarging waste gas, thereby reducing pollution to the environmentupon the sailing of a ship.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a quick purification device for smoke and exhaustgas discharged from a engine, in a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, includes a communicating tube 12, the axial direction ofwhich is vertically arranged, and the upper end of which is configuredwith a necked portion 13, first flared portion 14, second flared portion15 and exhaust tail pipe 17 in sequence from bottom to top, where thesecond flared portion 15 is configured in such a way as to be invertedwith respect to the first flared portion 14 to make the ends of thelargest diameter thereof opposite to each other. Furthermore, aplurality of straight-through ceramic filters 2 are configured betweenthe first flared portion 14 and second flared portion 15, allowing boththe ends of the largest diameter thereof to face it. Furthermore, awaste water diversion tube 121 is connected to the lower end of thecommunicating tube 12, and an exhaust vent 171 facing upward is openedon the top end of the exhaust tail pipe 17. Furthermore, an air inletpipe 1, which has an air inlet 11 adapted to be in connection with anexhaust outlet of a marine engine, is linked to the communicating tube12 between the necked portion 13 and waster diversion tube 121.

Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, a multi-hole mesh screen 16 isconfigured on the upper end of the first flared portion 14, allowing thestraight-through ceramic filters 2 to be supported by the mesh screen 16but not to affect the flowing smoothness of air flow.

In the embodiment, the communicating tube 12 between the necked portion13 and air inlet 1 is configured with a first exhaust gas flushingdevice 3A, which includes a plurality of atomizing nozzles 31 arrangedaround the inner circumference of the communicating tube 12, the orificeof each of which is directed toward the center of the communicating tube12, where the first exhaust gas flushing device 3A, through piping, isconnected to a pump (not shown in the figure) capable of pumping fluid(seawater) to each atomizing nozzle 31, allowing it to spray the pumpedfluid (seawater) into the inside of the communicating tube 12.

In the embodiment, the communicating tube 12 on the upper end of thesecond flared portion 15 is configured with a second exhaust gasflushing device 3B, which includes a plurality of atomizing nozzles 31arranged around the inner circumference of the communicating tube 12,the orifice of each of which is directed toward the center of thecommunicating tube 12, where the second exhaust gas flushing device 3B,through piping, is similarly connected to a pump (not shown in thefigure) capable of pumping fluid (seawater) to each atomizing nozzle 31,allowing it to spray the pumped fluid (seawater) into the inside of thecommunicating tube 12.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the exhaust outlet 17 above the secondexhaust gas flushing device 3B is configured with a third exhaust gasflushing device 3C, which includes a plurality of atomizing nozzles 31arranged around the inner circumference of the exhaust tail pipe 17, theorifice of each of which is directed toward the center of the exhausttail pipe 17, where the third exhaust gas flushing device 3B, throughpiping, is similarly connected to a pump (not shown in the figure)capable of pumping fluid (seawater) to each atomizing nozzle 31,allowing it to spray the pumped fluid (seawater) into the inside of theexhaust tail pipe 17.

The operation manner of the quick purification device for smoke andexhaust gas discharged from a marine engine of the present invention isconnecting air inlet pipe 1 to the exhaust outlet of a marine engine.Upon the sailing of a ship, highly heated exhaust gas will flow upward(hollow arrows as shown in the figure) after entering the communicatingtube 12 from the air inlet 1. At the same time, each atomizing nozzle 31of the first exhaust flushing device 3A sprays fluid (sea water) tocarry out primary flushing to the exhaust gas, and the flushed exhaustwater drops downward (solid arrows as shown in the figure) and isdischarged from the exhaust diversion tube 121. Thereafter, theprimarily flushed exhaust gas flow upward continuously to pass throughthe necked portion 13 and first flared portion 14 to be speeded to passthrough the straight-through ceramic filters 2 and second flared portion15. And then, the exhaust gas passes through the second, third exhaustgas flushing devices 3B, 3C in sequence, and at the same time, theatomizing nozzles 31 thereof also spray fluid (seawater) to carry outsecond and third flushing processes to the exhaust gas to flush outcontaminants; the flushed exhaust water will drop downward, and thedropped exhaust water will flush down carbon particles accumulatedinside the straight-through ceramic filters 2 while passing throughthem, allowing the contaminants to be discharged out with the exhaustwater through the communicating tube 12 and water gas diversion tube121. As a result, the exhaust gas passing through the second, thirdexhaust gas flushing devices 3B, 3C can then be purified, and thepurified exhaust gas flows upward continuously, being discharged outfrom the exhaust vent 171 of the exhaust tail pipe 17.

I claim:
 1. A quick purification device for smoke and exhaust gasdischarged from a marine engine, comprising: a communicating tube, anaxial direction thereof being vertically arranged, a necked portion,first flared portion, second flared portion and exhaust tail tube beingformed on a top end of the communicating tube in sequence from bottom totop, the second flared portion being configured in such a way as to beinverted with respect to the first flared portion, a plurality ofstraight-through ceramic filters being configured between the first andsecond flared portions, a waste water diversion pipe being connected toa lower end of the communicating tube, and the exhaust tail pipe havingan exhaust vent facing upward; an air inlet pipe, in communication withthe communicating tube between the necked portion and waste waterdiversion pipe; a first exhaust gas flushing device, configured on aninner circumference of the communicating tube between the necked portionand air inlet, capable of spraying fluid toward an inside of thecommunicating tube; a second exhaust gas flushing device, configured onan inner circumference of the communicating tube above the second flaredportion, capable of spraying fluid toward an inside of the communicatingtube; and a third exhaust gas flushing device, configured on an innercircumference of the communicating above the second waste gas flushingdevice, capable of spraying fluid toward an inside of the communicatingtube.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein both ends of thelargest diameter of said first and second flared portions respectivelyface toward the straight-through ceramic filters.
 3. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said first waste gas flushing devicecomprises a plurality of atomizing nozzles arranged around said innercircumference of said communication tube, and an orifice of each onethereof faces toward a center of said communicating tube.
 4. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said second waste gas flushing devicecomprises a plurality of atomizing nozzles arranged around said innercircumference of said communication tube, and an orifice of each onethereof faces toward a center of said communicating tube.
 5. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said third waste gas flushing devicecomprises a plurality of atomizing nozzles arranged around said innercircumference of said communication tube, and an orifice of each onethereof faces toward a center of said communicating tube.
 6. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein a mesh screen is configured on an end ofthe largest diameter of said first flared portion, and saidstraight-through ceramic filters are supported thereby.